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10 Ways To Do More With Less This Holiday Season

12:14 AM

This is one of the craziest holidays I ever had! From the numerous Christmas parties and gatherings, our trip to the province, the family reunion I'm organizing, errands for my business, other piled up tasks, and my aaemia (long story, that would be for another post)..... one would think I'd go nuts before Christmas Eve. Still, I believe there's a hack for everything in this world, and that includes the most awaited Noche Buena. If you're also going through a crazy schedule like mine, feel free to do more with less this holiday season with these tips:

1. Plan and prepare your meals and trips to the grocery.

Noche Buena is a big deal in our family. I'm lucky this year that my sister-in-law, who's a food caterer by the way, is cooking our feast. Media Noche for New Year's Eve is a different story, though, because I'd be left alone to cook for my boys. What I do for feasts like this is to research and directly save the recipe through the Pepperplate app. It's available for both Android and iOs and allows users to save and sync recipes from desktop to their mobile app. What I truly love about it, aside from having the recipes stored in my account, is that it can list the ingredients I need to shop for in a snap. Try it!

2. Wine things up!

Planning a party at home? Surprise your guests with richer wines by freezing some grapes and popping them in glasses to keep the wine cold without watering it down. Store your wine in the Electrolux Vino Wine Cooler and ensure you serve your wine perfectly all the time. You can also freeze leftover wines in ice-cube trays for reuse when preparing meat dishes and spaghetti sauces.

3. Freeze your meals.

Freezing is one of the simplest ways of food preservation. And it's not for raw food only but for cooked meals and leftovers, as well. I remember how my mom would cook batches of adobo that she would keep in tight lid containers and freeze for weeks. Properly frozen meals can last up to 2 months without losing their taste and texture. If you're looking for a ref that can do this efficiently, Electrolux NutriFresh™ Refrigerator would be a good choice.

4. Maximize your rice cooker.

Believe it or not, the humble rice cooker can actually go beyond its initial purpose. I've tried cooking soups and porridge, steamed dishes, and even frying. No wonder, the rice cooker is a favorite gift for newly-weds, haha!

5. Maintain the quality of your carpets with a vacuum cleaner.

While spills on your carpet are unavoidable with kids running around, the abrasive rubbing of stains will only cause the fiber to mat. Instead, use a wet-dry vacuum cleaner such as the Electrolux Wet and Dry Z931 vacuum cleaner to remove the dirt around the stain. Then try soaking up the stain with a wet towel pressed repeatedly onto it, repeat the process with a dry towel to ensure all the liquid has been absorbed.

6. Steam your clothes for a wrinkle-free finish.

When I was first taught how to iron clothes, my mom would hand me a spray bottle filled with water so I can iron the wrinkles easily. Well, those days are gone. Thanks to steam irons that are now affordable. Another good alternative is the Electrolux UltraMix™ Front Load Washing Machine that has a Refresh Cycle program that removes creases and folds and naturally de-wrinkles your clothes. Less time for laundry, more time for the family.

7. Use the floss.

Besides using it to clean your teeth, unwaxed dental floss can also be your trusty kitchen helper. It can be used to slice cakes and soft cheeses, as well as to tie-up poultry and rolled meats.

8. Run no more.

Make your stockings last longer by spritzing a little hairspray to avoid getting runs in them. The sticky residue will hold the fabric together, and stressful moments will be the last thing on your mind.

9. Upcycle!

Christmas break from school is the best time to bond with your kids through upcycling. Ask your kids to gather used Christmas wrappers for future scrapbooking projects in school. Upcycle an old dress into an apron or an old pair of jeans into a bag. The possibilities are endless!

10. Clean your refrigerator with salt.

Now is the perfect time to clear the unnecessary clutter in your refrigerator for the upcoming rush of hams, fruitcakes, wines, and all the goodies you need for Noche Buena. Clean your fridge by mixing a handful of salt with about 3 liters of warm water. The mixture is chemical free and gentle on sensitive surfaces.

With Electrolux appliances, you can simply Do More With Less at home this holiday season. Create a meaningful Christmas by having more time for the family and less time for the chores, more savings with less expenses, more wellness with less stress, and more care with less worry.

To know more about Electrolux, visit www.electrolux.com.ph or follow @ElectroluxPH on Twitter and Instagram and www.facebook.com/thelittlewhitebook on Facebook.

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